News

So, a comment we sometimes hear from people when we tell them about the iSpot Connect mobile WiFi rental service:

"But isn't there WiFi everywhere?"

Here's some answers to that question:

Yes, there is WiFi everywhere, even free WiFi. Most of which is not very usable. Whenever you find a free public WiFi hotspot, you can be sure that everyone in the vicinity is connected to it, including the residents that live within reach of the signal. So, what happens when lots of people connect to the same WiFi hotspot? Good luck even opening an email...

Yes, there is WiFi everywhere, even free WiFi. Don't you love those free WiFi hotspots that make you fill in a two page form with all your details before letting you have access? Great for when you only need to quickly check your emails to get the address of that meeting...

Yes, there is WiFi everywhere, even almost free WiFi. For example, doesn't that bar/café/pub have WiFi? Yes, it does. Here's how it usually works: You need to go into the establishment and buy some of whatever they are selling, even if you don't want it. Then they will give you a code that you can use to log into their WiFi (if they don't have a code to log into their WiFi, see point 1 above). The code usually gives you a limited time on the WiFi unless you buy something else. And if you look around and the place is pretty full with everyone working on their various devices, then see point 1 above again...

Yes, there is WiFi in my hotel. This is a good one. True, there are a few hotels that have invested in getting a good WiFi signal no matter where you are in the hotel. And a very very few of these actually offer the WiFi service as part of the daily room rate (very few). Most of the others charge extra to use their WiFi. And then you get all the other hotels where it just so happens that your room (and probably not the only room) is at the very edge of the hotel's WiFi coverage and you have to move around your room trying to find the best position to get a signal: "How about if I lean out of the door of my room into the hallway? that may work!". And they charge you for the privilege...

Yes, the hotel said they had internet in all the rooms. This is one that I have had the misfortune to experience. You arrive in your hotel room, whip out your tablet to quickly fire off some emails. "Where is the WiFi? There is no WiFi hotspot showing on my screen". You look around and see an ethernet cable snaking out of the wall and lying on the desk. Oops...

Yes, my customer must have WiFi at their offices where we'll be meeting. Some companies have set up a guest WiFi system so that visitors can have access to WiFi while on the premises. But most do not. And most of your customers that don't have a guest setup are not going to be comfortable giving you the keys to access their internal WiFi network to enable you to get that critical piece of data that will clinch the deal...

Now imagine the different experience you will have by having a mobile WiFi hotspot with you during your stay. :-)